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Council approves first reading of urban‑agriculture and animal‑code amendments
Summary
Council held first reading and approved, by voice vote, code amendments to Title 20 (residential zones) and Chapter 8 (animals) to permit limited urban agriculture on contiguous vacant lots owned by city residents and to relax some livestock ratios (e.g., allow two goats per 0.5 acre in certain cases). Staff will return with second reading and requested clarifying density figures.
Shane Perrin, the city’s code compliance officer, presented proposed amendments to Title 20 (single‑family residential zoning) and Chapter 8 (animals) to allow urban agricultural activities on contiguous lots owned by residents and to modify allowed livestock ratios. Perrin explained the proposals would allow small‑site agricultural activity on vacant lots if the owner resides in the city and that sites under one acre would be limited to small farm animals while sites of one acre or larger could host large farm animals with adjusted ratios.
Perrin said the planning commission held a public hearing and unanimously forwarded a recommendation of approval. Deputy Mayor Johnson asked for a clear density table showing how permitted animal counts would translate for smaller versus larger animals; Perrin provided existing square‑foot rules for miniature goats and agreed to include precise density language before second reading.
Councilmember Johnson moved for approval of the first reading with a contingency to return with clarified allowable densities; the motion passed on a voice vote. If approved at second reading, the amendments will change when and where residents may keep small herds and allow temporary use of larger goat herds for vegetation control under conditions that prevent public nuisances.
